Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Living BEYOND: Less than two days til LBBC's Yoga on the Steps!

Well, it's not really on steps. Living Beyond Breast Cancer's signature event started in my hometown, the City of Brotherly Love, on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum. I spent many Saturdays there as a child, taking art classes and wandering around the museum and the grounds with my then BFF BP. What a beautiful museum. I'm still not sure exactly how they do the yoga on the steps . . . but we don't need to worry about that here.

LBBC's third Yoga (not) on the Steps in DC is on Thursday evening, June 13, less than 48 hours from now!! It will be on the northeast quadrant of the Washington Monument (you know, that big tall white obelisk on the Mall that is being touched up after that little bit of earthquake damage . . )

Important points:

1) I am participating and fundraising and am VERY VERY close to my fundraising goal of $3000! I am very fortunate and grateful to have so many thoughtful and generous friends. THANK YOU, thank you, thank you all! As I write this, I have reached $2750 in just over a week . . So, if you'd like to support me, and others living beyond breast cancer, and LBBC --a wonderful organization that provides education, resources and support for breast cancer patients . . now is the time! Here is the link! Here and now!http://lbbc.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1061399&lis=1&kntae1061399=43F9E64F2B604FE5993C68FA846DCE25

2) LBBC has asked me to be a speaker on Thursday. What, me, speak? In public, not just over cocktails or Starbucks? What will I say? Oh, I'll think of something. Those who not only have to read my blog because they're close family and friends also know that I can talk --about virtually anything (well, maybe not wrestling or the inner and outer loops) including movies, shopping, restaurants, AND cancer. Yeah, I think that's the topic of the day. Please join me! See & hear my three minutes of fame. Bring your yoga mat . . or just watch. It's a really easy, lovely, uplifting event with beautiful music. Just come please please, I'd love to see some familiar faces in the crowd. And I promise I'll think of something to say.

3) So here are my thoughts on Living Beyond Breast Cancer: At first I thought beyond meant--move on; get it over with. Had breast cancer; took care of it with surgery, chemo, radiation. Done. Paid my dues. Celebrate once a year and move forward. But, noooo . . . . my cancer didn't actually leave. I've got it 4ever. I'm living WITH it.

Then, I realized--I have to live both WITH AND BEYONDbreast cancer.It is a part of me—a big part of me (after all, I write a friggin blog about it). But cancer is not all of me. I am so much more: a mom, a wife, a sister, a friend, a lawyer, a colleague, a yogi, (and many other names I have likely been called.) I have so many things to enjoy and be excited about every day. My world includes cancer but it is bigger. And fuller. And richer. And I will do my darn best to keep it that way--to really live, be alive, be present in all I do. And that, my friends, is my beyond. And I think that's what I'll talk about on Thursday. What do you think?

2 comments:

DAng, SD!! You made me cry again! Your presence, awareness, openness about something that is scary to most is astounding. May we all learn from your courage, strength, brilliance and joy. And ya, like anyone that has ever met you be worried about you not having something to say!!! :)

About Me

I'm a lawyer with almost 3 decades of experience in healthcare law and policy, proud Mom of a lovely daughter who is a college sophomore, a wife for 22 years (albeit, not always a very good one), human companion to a sweet but neurotic beagle mix named Lulu, a sister, aunt, great-aunt, yogini, a bit of a fashionista, and friend to many many wonderful people who have wandered into my life in various ways. Unfortunately, I am also a breast cancer patient. I was treated for stage II triple negative breast cancer in 2010 and for a recurrence in 2012-13. With Stage IV/metastatic disease, I will likely be a cancer patient forever. And I fully expect my forever to last a very long time.

I am currently participating in a clinical trial of a breast cancer vaccine at Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center. Dr. Leisha Emens is the Principal Investgator. I am excited to be part of this cutting edge research and hopeful about the results. The trial is still open to patients with metastatic disease, who are HER2 negative, and do not have any autoimmune diseases. Those interested in learning more may contact Megan at Johns Hopkins at 410-502-2995.

Why do I write? Because the frustrations, ironies, humor, beauty, joys, sadness, struggles, and craziness of life seem ever so magnified through the lens of a cancer patient. Because I cannot stop the flow of words. Because it is cathartic for me. Because I like to stir things up, make people laugh and cry and think. And because maybe some of this will help someone feel better for a few moments, feel less alone, know what to say to their friend with cancer, maybe even effect some positive change on a larger scale.

This blog is not intended to provide legal or medical advice. The views presented here are purely my own, based upon personal experience, and do not represent the views of my employer.

Artists

I am fortunate to have many talented artists in my life, friends, relatives, colleagues, and even a former nanny. I plan to share more art as my blog grows, and as relevant to my adventures.

Judy Licht is a neighborhood friend, photographer and writer. She took the photos of me displayed in the blog banner and designed the banner. (These are the first photos of me I have liked in a long time!) View more of Judy's photography at www.judylicht.com

Debra Aronson, "Artist at Last", is a former colleague, dear friend and creator of "Sunbreast", shown on my blog banner. Read about Debra and view more of her artwork at http://debraaronson.com/.

Nancy W. Taylor is an artist and art reacher in Doylestown, PA. Her work includes Broken Dish Mosaics, Pique Assiette--that incorporates pieces of broken ceramics, plates, cups, and other objects into the design. The appeal includes not only the finished art, but the expressiveness of breaking the objects and significance of objects that are found. Im proud to say that nancy is also my big cousin, although I've been taller than her since age 14. Check out Nancywtaylor.com